Method of adapting the vibrating steam-engine to two



einen; srnrns PATENT orrion.

J. H. LOVVVE,` OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF` ADAPTING THE VIBRATING- STEAM-ENGINE TO TWO, CRANK-SI-IAFTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 3,878, dated January 10, 1845.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, J. HENRY TowNE,

civil engineer, of the city of Philadelphia,

in the State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Improvement inthe Manner of Constructing Reciprocating-Cylinder Stea1n-Engines,`whichimproved engine is intended for the driving of two shafts at the same`time in opposite directions, by which it is rendered especiallyapplicable to the driving of two screw or other oblique propellers forthe propelling of vessels, but which may be applied to any other purposerequiring similar motions; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description thereof.

My engine is to have a vibrating cylinder, sustained upon suitabletrunnions, through which, if desired,.the steam may be admitted to thecylinder; but it may, if preferred, have other provisions for theadmission of steam, which need not be described, as it is not intendedto make claim to any particular manner of doing this, but to use such asare already known, or which may be hereafter devised.

In my engine there are to be two piston rods in a line with each other,which rods are to pass through the two cylinder heads, each head beingprovided with a stuffing bag. The piston rods are each to be connectedwith a crank at their outer ends, so that each shall actuate the shaftof a wheel for propelling, or for any other purpose, and cause saidshaft to revolve in opposite directions. One of these connections ofpiston rod with its crank is to be made by aid of a link, or of asliding box, admitting of a slight degree of lateral play, to preventcramping as the cranks revolve.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1, represents a side elevation, andFig. 2, a top view, of my engine.

A, A, is the steam cylinder, which vibrates upon trunnions, B, B. Thesetrunnions may be made hollow, as at C, to constitute them steampassages. Pf, P, P, represents a frame, which may be of cast-iron, andwhich sustains the cylinder and its appendages. Q, is a standard forsupporting the frame.

The line R', R', may represent that of the inside of a vessel.

D, shows a valve, or steam chest, contain ing a common slide valve.

E, is a rock shaft which is to be worked `by the motion of the cylinder.F, the valve stem, and F', Vits guide.

T, U, V, V, are levers for giving motion to the valve; but as this partof the apparatus may be variously modified, according to the sizeof theengine-and other circumstances, `I do not intend to limit myself to theparticular arrangement represented in this part thereof.

G, Gr, are the cylinder heads, provided with stuiiing boxes, as usual.H, H, H, H, are guides which may be cast in one `piece with, or befirmly attached to, each head of the cylinder, the inner edges, H', H',of these guides receive the ends of the cross heads R, R. The stabilityof these guides is stuiiing boxes; this transverse strain may` sometimesbe very great; as, for example, in the case of one propeller strikingthe ground, or any other obstacle offering great resistance to itsmotion, while the other is unobstructed.

R, R,.are the cross heads, which are secured upon the piston rods, S, S,and work between the inner edges H', H' of the guides; provision, ofcourse, being made for rendering this part adjustable so as tocompensate for wear.

L, is a short link, one end of which is attached to one of the crossheads, R, and the other to one of the crank pins, O, for the purpose ofpreventing cramping, as above named. At the end of the guides withinwhich the link, L, traverses, a curve, V, V, is formed, which serves toprevent the link from deviating fro-m its proper position, andconstrains the two cranks to pass the dead points simultaneously. Forthis link, a slotted cross head, or some analogous device, might besubstituted, as shown in Fig. 2, where R", R", represents a slot in oneof the cross heads, in which slot a box a, a, embracing the crank pin,may slide, and allow the necessary lateral motion thereto; the link, L,is, however, much to be preferred. M, IVI, are wheels to which the crankpins, O, O, may be attached, when thought proper.

The piston which I intend to use is of the ordinary kind, and the twopisto-n rods should be in one continuous piece, the more f perfectly toinsure the remaining in the same straight line.

' the two piston rods, the connecting of one of them to one of the crankpins, by means of a link, or some equivalent device, allowing of theamount of lateral motion necessary to enable both thev cranks torevolve' with perfect freedom.

I do not claim the passing of two piston rods through the two heads of apiston as in itself new, this having been previously "done, but I limitmy claim to the combination and arrangement by which I effect theobjectthat it was the purpose of this invention to accomplish, as setforth, and applied to the vibrating cylinder steam engine.

J. H. TOWNE.

Vitnesses:

JOHN V. MERRIGK, W. JONES.

